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Wagon Master

Wagon Master

  • Status: Released
  • 22-04-1950
  • Runtime: 86 min
  • Score: 6.7
  • Vote count: 145

Two young horse traders guide a Mormon wagon train to the San Juan Valley and encounter rugged terrain, the cutthroat Clegg gang, hospitable Navajo, and moral challenges on the journey.

Ben Johnson

Travis Blue

Joanne Dru

Denver

Harry Carey, Jr.

Sandy

Ward Bond

Elder Wiggs

Charles Kemper

Uncle Shiloh Clegg

Alan Mowbray

Dr. A. Locksley Hall

Jane Darwell

Sister Ledyard

Ruth Clifford

Fleuretty Phyffe

Russell Simpson

Adam Perkins

Kathleen O'Malley

Prudence Perkins

James Arness

Floyd Clegg

Francis Ford

Mr. Peachtree

Fred Libby

Reese Clegg

Jim Thorpe

Navajo Indian

Mickey Simpson

Jesse Clegg

Cliff Lyons

Marshal of Crystal City

Don Summers

Sam Jenkins

Movita

Young Navajo Indian

Hank Worden

Luke Clegg

Chuck Hayward

Jackson (uncredited)

Danny Borzage

Accordionist (uncredited)

Lee Bradley

Leader of the Navajo Band (uncredited)

Nora Bush

Settler (uncredited)

Jane Crowley

Settler (uncredited)

Tex Holden

Settler (uncredited)

George Huggins

Settler (uncredited)

Fred Kennedy

Settler (uncredited)

Al Kunde

Fiddler (uncredited)

Ann Kunde

Settler (uncredited)

Frank McGrath

Posse Member (uncredited)

Evelyn Moriarty

Settler (uncredited)

Eleanore Vogel

Settler (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

This is quite an unremarkable little pioneering yarn that sees two cowboys - Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. guiding a Mormon caravan across the Wild West. En route they encounter a motley collection of folks with a medicine show - and the sultry Joanne Dru ("Miss Denver"); then a bunch of less savoury characters led by Charles Kemper ("Shiloh Clegg") before they are invited to join some Navajo at their camp - and that's where it all turns a bit sour with our two gallant lads left to try to protect the travellers from the vengeful "Cleggs". John Ford seems to have lost his way with this pretty fluffy amalgam of stories; there's way too much singing and not enough action - and it lacks an anchor; either a John Wayne or a Henry Fonda - someone just to inject some strength of character to it. Even the score drifts along aimlessly, too. Ward Bond and Hank Worden do their best to keep the "Rio Grande" spirit flowing, but it's all just a bit too tepid.